Dates ........ Thursday, September 5, 2002
Miles ........ 5.7 miles + 2 mile side trail
From ........ Horseshoe Canyon Lean-to
To ............. Shaw's Boarding House - Monson, ME
Weather ... 53 degF, sunny breezy AM

Thursday, September 5, 2002

West and East Branches Piscataquis River, Lake Hebron, Monson, Maine.

It was a decent, sunny morning. "Sunshine" was very sick with unexplained abdominal cramps. At first she was in such pain she could not talk or move, let alone hike. Sunshine was a nurse near retirement age. She took 6 months leave from her job so she could hike the trail and was nearing completion of her sojourn. I found her an amazing and inspirational woman. She had been ill, but not this seriously, only once before in her entire time on the trail. I was very concerned. Since it was just she and I, there was little I could do. I checked her over, asked some questions (I have had EMS training and over 7 years first responder experience, plus wilderness medicine) and did not think it was anything life-threatening like a ruptured appendix. We formulated a plan. She was sure her illness was just gas or something similar that would pass (after all, she was an experienced nurse and should know her own body). I would go on to Monson, only a little over 7 miles, the nearest source of help as it turned out, and if she did not come along within three hours after I got there, or send word to me by way of another hiker, I was to call out the rescue personnel. I felt funny leaving her there, but the plan was sound - if she got better, she'd be join me and if not, I'd send help.

On my way out, just a mile or so past the shelter, I ran into two southbound section hikers. I told them of her plight and they said they'd be glad to check on her and stay with her if she was still sick. That made me feel better.

The AT continued along the West branch of the Piscataquis River until it joined up with the East Branch. It was a beautiful trek down the river gorge, like a canyon in many places. The trail crossed the East Branch at a ford. The water was low enough so I could stone-hop across and keep my feet dry. Then the AT went over a ridge and followed it to Lake Hebron. I saw a weasel dart across the trail just before I entered town. Monson is situated on the opposite end of the lake from the AT. A side trail led right to Shaw's Boarding House. I got there about 10:50 A.M., registered and took my stuff up to my $25.00 private room, then came down and made a couple of phone calls. I was greatly relieved to see Sunshine come strolling in lass than an hour after I got there. She was fine, and thought she was suffering from gas. Whatever the case, I was glad she made it. As the day wore on, many different outdoor enthusiasts and hikers came into Shaw's.

I walked around town, stopped at the Pie Lady's and bought a blueberry pie. Monson was a cute little town. I found a Cub Tractor outfitted with a hydraulic bucket loader and tracks. I had never seen one similar to it, even in the antique tractor books. It must have been a rare bird or a completely custom job. I have a garden variety Cub tractor and it is a great machine. I use it mostly for skidding out timber and hauling firewood. I can't imagine it having enough power to be effective with a bucket and tracks.

I had a pleasant, relaxed afternoon at Shaw's, spending part of it in a lawn chair out front drinking a beer and chatting with other hikers. When I called home I got the news that a bear had visited and destroyed my satellite dish (going after a bee hive on it) and ripped up my cat's door trying to get into the cat food and left muddy paw prints well up on the cellar door. Everything else was OK at home.

Dinner at Shaw's was absolutely the best I have had ANYWHERE on or along the trail. Mrs. Shaw cooked up a huge pot roast of beef. Served boarding house style, big plates of beef, buttered carrots, peas, mashed potatoes, gravy, bread, butter and beverages adorned the table. There was more than enough for everyone to have all they wanted. Dessert was pudding with peaches (I had two).

I ate some of my pie before dinner, some after and some for breakfast. What a treat! After dinner I did laundry. While waiting for laundry, Keith took me out back and showed me his cattle. He had 4 steers in the small barn. They were the beef supply for his boarding house. As two go of to the butcher, he gets two more calves. Shaw's was in the middle of a small town. A "grandfather clause" allows him to keep the cattle over the objections of his neighbors. They do bellow a lot and set up quite a racket (the steers - not the neighbors!) and create a certain "country air", which I'm used to and don't mind. They really carried on loudly at 4 A.M. (tomorrow morning), disturbing my, and probably everyone else's, sleep.

Keith and Keith Jr. Shaw Cook up a hearty hiker's breakfast

 

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